Aug. 6, 1999
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Former University of Kentucky All-American Cedric Kauffmann andcurrent Cat Johan Hesoun won a doubles thriller on Thursday night at the Fifth Third Bank Tennis Championships, besting former Cat All-American Greg Van Emburgh and ATP Tour veteran Doug Flach, 7-6, 7-5.In what may be one of the biggest upsets in the tournament, Hesoun and Kauffmann were able to top Van Emburgh, the former Wimbledon semifinalist, and partner with a combination of big serves, pinpoint volleys and on-court composure.
After Van Emburgh initiated an exchange with the officials concerning foot-fault calls, the Hilary J. Boone Tennis Center crowd rallied around the two young underdogs, Kauffmann and Hesoun. Van Emburgh seemed to become rattled, and began to berate some fans seated courtside. Kauffmann and Hesoun, however, kept their cool and capitalized on a late service break in the second set to claim the win.
Kauffmann and Hesoun advance to Friday night?s semifinals, where theywill face the fourth-seeded tandem of Michael Sell and Gabriel Trifu. Sell and Trifu advanced to the semifinals with a 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 win over Naom Behr and Noam Okun.In singles action, top seed Anthony DePuis advanced to the third round in straight sets, besting Australian Ben Ellwood, 6-4, 6-4.DePuis controlled the match throughout, showing the near-capacitycrowd at the Hilary J. Boone Tennis Center why he is seeded atop the men?s draw.
DePuis downplayed his No. 1 seed, pointing to the tournament?s strong field.
?Sure I?m seeded No. 1, but the draw is so deep that anyone couldwin,? DePuis said. ?All of these players are so tough and every match will be a battle.?
Fifth-seeded Harel Levy also advanced to round three, rebounding from a shaky first set to top Michael Russell 1-6, 6-2, 6-1. Levy, who edged local favorite Kauffmann on Tuesday, will next face Barry Cowan, a 7-6, 6-4 winner over Michael Hill, in Friday night?s 7 p.m. feature match.
On the women?s side, upsets were the order of the day, as four seededplayers were bounced in round two.
Women?s No. 1 seed Nicole Pratt fell, 6-2, 6-1, to Annabel Ellwood,and No. 2 seed Jana Nejedly dropped a 7-5, 6-2 decision to Florencia Labat. No. 5 seed Erika DeLone was also an upset victim, falling 6-3, 6-7, 7-6 to Francesca Lubiani.
Qualifier Linda Wild, who topped Paducah native Jackie Trail onWednesday, also knocked off a seeded player, besting No. 8 seed Samantha Reeves, 6-3, 7-5.
Fang Li, the No. 3 seed, is the highest seeded player left in thewomen?s draw after topping Jill Craybas, 6-3, 7-6, on Thursday.
Action will continue on Friday, with opening matches set for 2 p.m.
Tickets are available at the gate.
Fifth Third Bank Tennis Championships
Hilary J. Boone Tennis Center
Lexington, Ky.
Men?s Singles Round Two
Anthony DePuis d. Ben Ellwood 6-4, 6-4
Naom Okun d. Todd Scheck 6-2, 6-1
Barry Cowan d. Michael Hill 7-6 (8), 6-4
Harel Levy d. Michael Russell 1-6, 6-2, 6-1
Men?s Doubles Round Two
Criswell/Givone d. Levy/Sela 6-0, 6-4
Sell/Trifu d. Behr/Okun 6-3, 3-6, 6-4
Kauffmann/Hesoun d. Flach/Van Emburgh 7-6, 7-5
Women?s Singles Round Two
Annabel Ellwood d. Nicole Pratt 6-2, 6-1
Jolene Watanabe d. Holly Parkinson 6-7 (2), 6-2, 6-0
Fang Li d. Jill Craybas 6-3, 7-6 (6)
Francesca Lubiani d. Erika DeLone 6-3, 6-7 (4), 7-6 (3)
Nannie DeVilliers d. Amanda Grahame 6-3, 4-6, 6-4
Hila Rosen d. Candice Fuchs 6-1, 6-2
Linda Wild d. Samantha Reeves 6-3, 7-5
Florencia Labat d. Jana Nejedly 7-5, 6-2
Women?s Doubles Round One
Fusai/Labat d. Reeves/Watanabe 6-2, 6-3
Grahame/Lubiani d. Schaerer/Vaidyanathan 6-4, 6-2
Kim/Pullin d. DeLone/Pratt 6-2, 6-1
McQuillan/McShea d. DeVilliers/Wild 6-2, 6-2
Hiraki/Yoshida d. Jidkova/Stewart 6-4, 3-6, 6-0
For more information on the Fifth Third Bank Tennis Championships, contact Brad Sutton at (606) 257-8710.
